Pando

so much has happened since 2015...

Revisado: 11-13-22

Couldn't finish the book after seeing several big red flags on his wiki page; I should have read that before purchase. I get that one can be falsely accused, but he's had several issues. I was finding the book interesting until I read a previous review and looked him up. It's tough to listen once you are privy to his background; it certainly didn't mesh with how he came across in book. Regardless, he's quite accomplished.

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skip it

Revisado: 03-17-22

it's simply an amalgamation of many books, common stories, sprinkled with a few anecdotal stories that don't really pertain to smarter decision making. I like Duke, but this is such a dud.

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HERE'S WHAT I LIKE: BREAKS CONVENTIONAL WISDOM

Revisado: 07-15-21

I enjoy a book that highlights the author's experience, and with sufficient research, can illustrate how conventional wisdom shouldn't be.

The Confidence Gap is a book that looks deeper than the cheerleader mentality. It gets away from the brainwash techniques that present-day gurus broadcast. It does away with the delusional, think-positive 100% of the time mentality. Instead I was somewhat calmly reassured that my inner voices, my fears and uncertainty are wired in me, and I can address them by acknowledging them. Not by making myself believe that I can overcome fear by brainwashing myself, or daily mantras, but by managing it.

Different things work for different people; this worked for me. Having now been about a week since I finished, I refer to my notes. I'm miffed that I was able to run into this audiobook, with a title that I particularly wouldn't select, and frankly, has provided me with better direction on how to address some of my biggest doubts about myself.

I was not familiar with Russ Harris, and now that I am, will read up on him. I would recommend this book.
-Erick

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How do you define Greatness?

Revisado: 03-09-20

Some say Caesar was a hero; others say he was a murderer.

Interestingly, these are the words that resonate with Napoleon, Churchill, and other champions.

For over two thousand years, many have tried emulating Caesar, or channeling him, as I attempt. I haven't seen anyone modeling themselves after Caligula or other failed generals. You can't emulate someone you have never heard of.

For me, this book was as informative as it was eye-awakening. How can someone accomplish so much in life? I like how the author brings this character to life, allowing me to use him as a source of inspiration. I also feel that Goldsworthy doesn't speculate recklessly in an attempt to sensationalize the story. Because of this book, I purchased Augustus by the same author, and now want to read on Agrippa and other agents of history.

Imagine, if these historical giants were told that future generations would look at their accomplishments, and that thousands would be inspired, motivating them to be better strategists, better business people, better politicians, better providers and ultimately, happier. They certainly acted like it.

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Sometimes...

Revisado: 02-22-20

I purchased the audiobook because of her Ted Talk. The few minutes were inspiring, and I took notes, and they indeed will serve as a tool. That, in fact, is why I made the purchase. Unfortunately the book misses. I didn't believe her narration was good either. Narrating a book is an art, and it certainly is not Headlee's.

Also,she referenced her conversations with her kid throughout the book. I don't care about her conversations with her child, regardless of how cute he is. The subject of race is littered in a few chapters, and if I wanted to listen to that, I would have opted for a different book, as I have. She's biracial, and it is the least of my concerns.

For having such a strong performance on her Ted Talk, I incorrectly assumed that the book would be a worthy follow-up, especially for someone who really needs to learn the art of conversation (me). I really pressed to finish it.

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a business book disguised as a biography

Revisado: 02-21-20

Like his other book, Churchill: Walking With Destiny, this was a wonderful book by Robert Andrews.

First, I can't go further without crediting John Lee for an incredibly wonderful narration - it was perfect!

I won't bore you with Napoleon, you know who he was, and will find much more detail in this book. I do find that many successful individuals share many of Napoleon's traits. He was a phenomenal communicator, orator, writer, eloquent, immensely hard-working, incredible intellect, and as Roberts states in an online discussion, Napoleon had a wonderful sense of humor. I am certain, that people were somewhat mesmerized by his appearance when they first met him, for we have all of these images of "tall, dark and handsome", masculinity, and eloquence, yet they left perhaps even more perplexed by who he was, even his adversaries, whether attributed to his charisma, his listening skills, understanding of the situation, obvious intelligence, and without the pompousness of his title.

Of course, I never realized how little I knew of Napoleon. I also concluded that I shall practice many of his traits, and, like Churchill, a sense of destiny.

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LOVE AND HATE

Revisado: 02-07-20

Man, I loved this listen. I knew of Churchill, being in my 50's, but was curious after watching WW2 documentaries. I wanted to know more about this person. I enthusiastically listened to this audiobook. Must have driven my carpool partner nuts.

I didn't want to listen about someone who was perfect. Churchill certainly was not. In fact, that is why I enjoyed this book so much. He was an enigma. He was polarizing. He did so much right, and so much wrong, but as Roberts states, he was the best wartime politician of the 20th century.

It's weird to think that one person could change history so much. What if? What if he had not become PM? What if Hitler had been negotiated with, only to eventually have an atom bomb? Churchill sniffed it out and was relentless.

I'm not terribly emotional, but felt an overwhelming connection with Churchill. I'm not a hero-worshiper, but now have a hero. I've read many management books, yet this is the best management resource I have read.

I decided to watch The Darkest Hour, and there is a part in the movie where Chamberlain finally removes his hanky from his suit pocket, an apparent sign giving the go-ahead for the conservatives to applaud Winston during a crisis speech. They went nuts; they knew they were not defeated. That is Churchill in a nutshell. He invigorated his peers, his counterparts, and the people of England. To me, the greatest proof that Churchill was a great man, is that Roberts, armed with diaries and material that is now public, provides example after example of Churchill's contemporaries, who stated that even though they didn't like the man or his actions, was in fact, the man for the job - the only man for the job.

When looking for a book on Churchill, I came across the following NYT article, chose this book, and was glad I did:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/13/books/review/andrew-roberts-churchill-winston-biography.html

It turns out that Churchill was the most fascinating person that I have ever read about, and have a new slogan for myself, "Be like Churchill."

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I've lost 60 and counting

Revisado: 11-23-19

I've struggled with my weight, especially after 35. I'm 54, and although I didn't feel obese, I was. In fact, according to weight charts, I was over 100 lbs. overweight.

- The past five years, I've lost 40 lbs. on three separate occasions - only to gain all of the weight back each time.
- Last November, I lost some weight, traveled to Italy, lost 10 more lbs. with all of the walking, then I returned to US and packed on 25 lbs. in a couple of months, but still 25 lbs. below my highest weight.
- I needed to do something. I was sick of the yo-yo syndrome. I went online and found The Obesity Code. What an ugly name I thought, but I wanted to find a scientific approach - something that could explain to my what was going on.
- As soon as I started listening Fung talks about fasting - that's the deal-breaker - I loathe it.
- But something clicked. Paraphrasing Fung, "Yes, you will feel hunger, but the hunger pangs will go away in 15 minutes..." They did, In fact, I can now say I'm not even sure if it was hunger I felt.
- I fasted one day a week a couple of weeks, then two days a week for two weeks, I'm confident I could easily fast for a week without any issues. In fact, it's been months since I fasted an entire day.

WHAT WORKS FOR ME...
- I do not snack. I believe this is major. Supposedly your body burns stored energy (fat) since there's no fuel in the tank (food/snacks). Also, I've lost major fat around my chest and gut.
- Contrary to everything I have read, I eat at night. I fast the entire day, then eat around 6 pm to 8 pm. This works for me. Throughout the day, I'll drink coffee/tea/water/sparkling water. I do this four days a week, but FRI, SAT and SUN, I eat throughout the day.
- I don't count calories. I eat well. I don't feel I'm on a diet. There are times I eat 4 or 5 pieces of chicken at night. I always drink wine - 1 or 2 glasses a night. I eat cheese, nuts, fruits, etc. I actually crave salads, something I wasn't used to.
- I was fat for a reason. I love pastries; I love sweets. I'm avoiding sugars and wheat. I avoid sugars for obvious reasons. I avoid wheat because although I lost weight, I felt like I weighed 500 lbs., weighing half of that. My knees hurt when I got out of my car, so I read about inflammatory properties, etc., and in just two days, I had more bounce in my step. Plus, think about it, wheat is in bread, pastries, bagels, carb-concentrated foods, fortified carbs, etc. BUT, I do eat pasta, bread, and desserts when socializing.
- I don't really exercise, although I try to walk a bit more throughout the day. According to my step counter on my iphone, I walk about 7,000 steps throughout the day.

I purchased this audiobook less than a year ago, and it has been a life-changer.

WHY AM I WRITING THIS REVIEW?
As I was walking by a table at a restaurant, I overheard an acquaintance tell a friend, "Man, your friend's really done a great job losing all of that weight." Boy, I felt good, but not goofy. What I'm doing is working. I expect to lose weight. Overall, I'd have to say that the three biggest factors contributing to my weight loss THAT WORK FOR ME are (and one is the byproduct of the other...):
- Not Snacking
- Fasting
- Avoiding Sugars/Wheat except during social activities

Recently, it was my daughter's wedding, and I wanted to try my suit on, "just in case", and HOLY W#(&$!, I floated inside of it. I had to make a last-second run to Nordstrom and get a new suit. My wife is happy because she feels that I am healthier, and I of course I feel much better. IT HAS BEEN EASY.

My barometer always was that I felt (was) the fattest guy in the room. I still am occasionally but it's definitely not as frequent. When I watch a documentary or movie about the Vikings, Saxons, etc., I think about how they marched all day, only to eat at nighttime. It's not like if they stopped by for a snack, plus there wasn't such a thing as a four-course meal. You ate, you drank, you slept, you got up, repeat. As Fung states, he couldn't find where this notion of eating three times a day come from, and now it's also snacks in between meals. Big money has really brainwashed us. Buy the book.

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I, ME, MINE

Revisado: 02-16-18

I agree with the reviewer who says this audiobook is two books.

Regardless, this author has a humungous ego. There are many anecdotal stories. It is almost an autobiography.

It seems so common nowadays - many books are basically the same stuff being rehashed. This book does have a few nuggets. But it is just hours of listening to someone who simply replaced the words determination, tenacity, perseverance and endurance with GRIT, as if a scientific discovery.

I am like most people on this site. I want to like the books I listen to. This is not a terrible book, it's an average book. I shall keep searching.

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The Holy Grail

Revisado: 07-13-12

Okay, there is no Holy Grail!

I know that I find value in an audiobook when I have listened to it several times. This is one of a couple that fall in that category.

I've had a recent explosion in my life. I'm happier, more positive, I'm doing better, I'm getting things done, I'm more confident, and as I alluded to in a previous review, I kid you not, I've had more smiles thrown my way than in my lifetime! Yes, I've shed a few pounds, but I think there is a little positive aura following me instead of that dark cloud.

In fairness, It's not just one book. In fact, the initial spark was me needing change. I was at one of those points in life where I needed to be more productive, happier, etc. Point is, I needed to go somewhere - I just didn't know where or how, and a few books are helping me pave a path.

I got sick of listening to "rah, rah" books, instead searching for books that provide scientific proof of why I act in certain manners, many times contrary to my goals. This is one of several books that are relevant in my recent successes: Positive Intelligence, Positivity, Getting Things Done and The Power of Habit are others. These books have provided me with serious fuel, instead of just a momentary spike in motivation.

The nice thing about enjoying a book is that the author often turns you on to one or two books - Willpower made reference to Getting Things Done - that book as been good for me as well. It works for me, and that's important.

Willpower led me to change a few bad habits. It has taught me, as has The Power of Habit, that I can replace bad habits - and do so with baby steps - something that had a negative connotation in my life before for whatever reason. By performing what seem like insignificant good little habits, we start tweaking our brains and then, intelligently, ask ourselves after spotting a not-so-good habit, "Gee, why do I do this?" I've just never made this kind of progress and I feel great about it. I dislike reviewing books after just reading it because it will be more positive than the results. I'm cautious, but I've turned a corner boys and girls, and these books are helping. I plan on making some serious dents to my saboteurs. Trust me, I've had an army of them, and they've been disguised very well.

As a side note, I have found that listening to the audiobooks repeatedly helps not only my comprehension, but it's kind of like a mental workout - I'll show up where I need to with a stronger, active, positive, curious brain instead of the ol' reptile brain.

-Erick

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esto le resultó útil a 80 personas